Sky-Watcher BKP 200/1000 OTAW Dual Speed Optical Tube (SW-1004)

This Newtonian reflector telescope is built around a large parabolic primary mirror with a diameter of 200 mm (8 inches) and a focal length of 1000 mm. The new version is equipped with a 2" Crayford focuser with a 1.25" adapter, making it compatible with virtually all eyepieces on the market. The focuser includes a microfocuser for precise focusing and also features a T-2 thread, allowing DSLR cameras to be attached with additional adapters.

Optical system
This is a Newtonian reflector telescope. Thanks to its large aperture and relatively fast focal ratio, it is particularly recommended for observing deep-sky objects such as galaxies, clusters, and nebulae. It also performs very well for planetary and lunar observations. Its 8" parabolic mirror gathers about 575 times more light than the human eye, enabling the observation of objects down to magnitude 13 and fainter (naked-eye visibility is limited to around magnitude 6). Its resolving power allows separation of stars spaced more than 0.7" apart.

Because of its brightness and the absence of chromatic aberration, Newtonians of this type are popular among amateur astrophotographers. For imaging, it requires a stable equatorial mount with motor drive, at least EQ5 class. For visual observations, additional eyepieces are recommended, such as a short focal length eyepiece (4–6 mm) for planetary viewing and a medium focal length eyepiece (10–15 mm) with a wide field for deep-sky objects.

Mount
Supplied without a mount.

Focuser
Equipped with a 2" Crayford focuser with 10:1 micro-adjustment, compatible with 2" and 1.25" eyepieces. The set includes a 2" eyepiece.

Astronomical observations

1. Solar System

• Lunar surface features larger than 1.5 km

• Sunspots and their structures (with proper solar filter)

• All planets of the Solar System

• Phases of Mercury and Venus

• Mars’ disk with visible details

• Jupiter’s equatorial bands, Galilean moons

• Saturn’s rings and several moons, Cassini Division under good conditions

• Uranus and Neptune as small disks

• Asteroid motion against background stars

• Bright comets

2. Stars

• Around 2.7 million stars across the sky, down to magnitude 13

• Double and multiple stars separated by more than 0.7"

• Colors of the brightest stars

3. Deep-sky objects

• All Messier catalog objects

• Hundreds of globular clusters, many partially resolved

• Hundreds of open clusters

• Dozens of nebulae with visible detail

• Thousands of galaxies, some showing structure

Terrestrial observations
This type of optical design is not ideal for terrestrial use. To obtain an upright image, an erecting lens is required. With such a lens and a suitable mount, the telescope can be adapted for basic terrestrial viewing.

Included equipment

• LET 28 mm 2" eyepiece

• 2"/1.25" adapter

• 9x50 finder scope

• 2" Crayford focuser with 10:1 microfocuser

Specifications

• Catalog number: SW-1004

• Optical design: Newtonian reflector

• Mount type: Optical tube only

• Aperture: 203 mm

• Focal length: 1000 mm

• Focal ratio: f/4.9

• Limiting magnitude: 14.1

• Maximum useful magnification: 406x

• Resolution (Rayleigh): 0.70"

• Resolution (Dawes): 0.57"

• Light gathering power: 841× (compared to the human eye)

• Tube weight: 8.8 kg

• Tube length: 920 mm

• Tube diameter: 240 mm

• Focuser type: Crayford

• Focuser size: 2"

• Micro-adjustment: Yes

• Secondary mirror diameter: 51 mm

• Mounting rail: Vixen style

• Warranty: 60 months